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TICL—A type inference system for Common Lisp
Author(s) -
Ma KwanLiu,
Kessler Robert R.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380200606
Subject(s) - lisp , programming language , computer science , compiler , common lisp , exception handling , type inference , code (set theory) , data type , type (biology) , inference , artificial intelligence , set (abstract data type) , ecology , biology
Abstract Most current Common Lisp compilers generate more efficient code when supplied with data type information. However, in keeping with standard Lisp programming style, most programmers are reluctant to provide type information; they simply allow the run‐time type system to manage the data types accordingly. To fill this gap, we have designed and implemented a type inference system for Common Lisp (TICL). TICL takes a Lisp program that has been annotated with a few type declarations, adds as many declarations as possible, and produces a type declared program. The compiler can then use this information to generate more efficient code. Measurements indicate that a 20 per cent speed improvement can generally be achieved.